Foundation Piers: Settlement Piering Services
Our team at Perma-Seal offers professional foundation piering services to repair foundation settlement problems for Chicago and NW Indiana home and business owners.
Foundation Settlement Piering
When you have a sinking or settling foundation, it can be a very worrisome situation. Thankfully, we have performed foundation repairs on thousands of homes in the Chicagoland area over the years and we have a solution that will work for your home as well. While some foundation problems can lead to the need for a waterproofing solution, many problems can be repaired and will not have future waterproofing issues.
Perma-Seal utilizes a foundation piering system that can be used to permanently stabilize your home’s foundation. Our team will perform excavation to below the foundation as a key step and install piering foundation brackets. Then, piers are hydraulically driven into the ground until they reach competent load-bearing earth or bedrock. The home’s weight is carefully transferred to these piers to ensure that there is no further settlement. Access to certain areas of the foundation can impact the installation process and may require additional work depending on the foundation layout. Finally, your home can slowly be lifted back to its original, level position, in most cases.
Our Foundation Piering Solutions
We use two different types of foundation piers depending on the location and severity of the problem: push piers and helical piers. Push piers work by attaching a bracket to the foundation and forcing the piers into the soil until they reach bedrock or soil that can support the weight, slowly raising the sunken foundation back up. The helical piers provide the same end result but instead of pushing them into the ground, they are inserted like a screw and can be effective at a lower soil depth. Most foundations benefit from using push or helical piers for long-term stability. Compared with other foundation repair methods, such as slabjacking or mudjacking, piering offers a more permanent and effective solution. Our team will determine the type of pier after evaluating the foundation’s condition, taking into account site conditions and soil types to ensure the best support for your property.
Push Piers
Our team at Perma-Seal has used push piers, which are hydraulically driven steel piers, to repair settling foundations across the Chicago area for years. Push piers are often used to stabilize the frame, floor, and walls of a structure affected by foundation settlement. Signs such as cracks in brick or uneven floors can indicate a sinking foundation that may require underpinning with push piers. The foundation piering system we use is a form of underpinning, designed to support the weight of your structure by transferring the load to bedrock or load-bearing soil beneath the foundation.
Helical Piers
Helical piers, which are also known as screwpiles, are called such because they resemble a large screw. Our team uses these piers when the application does not require a high load capacity. Helical piers are a cost-effective solution for many projects and are commonly used in pier foundation systems to elevate and stabilize structures. The structure, construction, and overall construction process influence the placement and type of piers used. Helical piers act as anchors to stabilize the foundation and prevent movement. They are driven into the ground like a screw and support the weight of the structure by compacting the dirt between the screw plates on the side.
Soil Conditions and Foundation Piering
Soil conditions play a major role in foundation settlement and in the need for piering. The soil beneath a home can shift due to changes in moisture, erosion, or poor drainage, leaving the foundation without consistent support. Foundation piering is designed to address this problem by transferring the structure’s weight away from unstable surface soils and onto deeper, load-bearing layers.
Because every property sits on different soil, proper evaluation is critical before any piering system is installed.
Soil Conditions and Foundation Piering
Soil conditions play a major role in foundation settlement and the need for piering. The soil beneath a home can shift due to changes in moisture, erosion, or poor drainage, leaving the foundation without consistent support. Foundation piering is designed to address this problem by transferring the structure’s weight from unstable surface soils to deeper, load-bearing layers.
Because every property sits on different soil, proper evaluation is critical before any piering system is installed.
Selecting the Right Pier System for Your Soil
Different soil conditions require different foundation pier solutions. In areas with weak, expansive, or sandy soil, helical piers are often used because they are screwed deep into the ground until they reach stable soil or bedrock. Push piers (steel piers) are hydraulically driven into the ground and rely on the structure’s weight to reach load-bearing strata, making them ideal for stabilizing or lifting settling foundations.
A foundation professional will assess soil composition, depth to stable layers, and structural load to determine the most effective pier system for long-term support.
How Foundation Piers Prevent Settlement and Structural Damage
Soil movement can lead to common foundation problems like uneven floors, stair-step cracks, sticking doors, and wall separation. Foundation piers address these issues by permanently stabilizing the foundation and preventing further settlement.
When installed correctly, piering systems provide long-term structural support and help protect the value of your home or building. By anchoring the foundation in stable soil, foundation piers provide a reliable solution that withstands ongoing soil movement and changing ground conditions.
Contact Us For Foundation Settlement Repair in Chicago and NW Indiana
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with a member of our team to discuss a sinking or settling foundation repair solution for your home, please contact us today.
Foundation Inspection
Jd
Foundation Repair
Egress Window / Crack repairs
George Heller was very friendly and explained all of my options. Really appreciate his expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes foundation settlement in Chicago-area homes?
Foundation settlement in Chicago and NW Indiana is commonly caused by shifting soils, excessive moisture, poor drainage, or soil erosion beneath the foundation. Expansive clay soils, common throughout the Chicagoland area, expand when wet and shrink when dry, causing movement that can sink or settle foundations over time. Foundation piering addresses these issues by transferring the structure’s weight to stable, load-bearing soil or bedrock.
How do foundation piers fix a settling foundation?
Foundation piers stabilize a settling foundation by bypassing weak or unstable surface soil and anchoring the structure to deeper, competent soil or bedrock. At Perma-Seal, steel push piers or helical piers are installed below the foundation and hydraulically driven or screwed into the ground. Once secure, the weight of the home is transferred to the piers, preventing further settlement and, in many cases, allowing the foundation to be lifted closer to its original level.
What is the difference between push piers and helical piers?
Push piers are hydraulically driven steel piers that rely on the structure’s weight to reach load-bearing soil or bedrock, making them ideal for heavier homes with significant settlement. Helical piers are screwed into the ground and are often used in areas with weaker soils or where access and load requirements differ. Perma-Seal determines the optimal pier type based on soil conditions, foundation design, and settlement severity.
Is foundation piering a permanent solution for settlement problems?
Yes. Foundation piering is considered one of the most permanent solutions for foundation settlement. Unlike temporary fixes such as mudjacking or slabjacking, piering systems are designed to provide long-term structural support by anchoring the foundation to stable soil. When properly installed by experienced professionals like Perma-Seal, foundation piers help prevent future settlement and protect your home’s structural integrity.
How do I know if my Chicago home needs foundation piering?
Common signs that your home may need foundation piering include stair-step cracks in brick or block walls, uneven or sloping floors, sticking doors or windows, and visible foundation settlement. If you notice these issues, it’s important to schedule a professional foundation inspection. Perma-Seal offers expert evaluations throughout Chicago and NW Indiana to determine whether foundation piering is the right solution for your property.
